TINONEE's Judith Cluss has been named the 2014 Myall Lakes Citizen of the Year for her outstanding volunteer work in the town.
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Judith was one of the six winners celebrated during the 2014 Myall Lakes Community awards ceremony at Club Taree on Saturday.
Judith has been an integral part of the Tinonee community since retiring to the town with her husband from Sydney in 2003.
Each Friday for the last 10 years she has donated her time to help in the Tinonee Public School canteen.
She's also been president of the Tinonee Rotary Club branch for the past four years, and is the co-ordinator of the Tinonee Friendship Group.
After moving from Sydney to the small town, it was the desire to become more a part of her new community which inspired her volunteer work.
"When I first moved here I thought it would be a way to get out and meet new people," she said.
"No one knew who I was and I didn't know them, so volunteer work was the way to introduce myself."
Her volunteering began by answering the call of the town's public school.
"I saw a write up in the Manning River Times about closing the school's canteen down, and I rang up and said 'what can I do'?, and that's how it started," she said.
Judith was truly stunned to be named the Myall Lakes Citizen of the Year.
"I couldn't believe it, I knew I was a finalist and I saw my name on the program with the other finalists, but I thought all the other people do more than me," she said.
"I couldn't believe it when they called my name out, I was stunned.
"I was proud. A lot of people do a lot of work and I'm just one of them.
"Without them it would be a sad state."
Judith's love for volunteering knows no bounds.
"I just do all the things I love to do, and the things I love about it the most are meeting and helping people," she said.
"I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it, and I volunteer because there's a call for things needed to be done."
The annual ceremony is conducted each year by the member for Myall Lakes, Stephen Bromhead.
In addition to the six winners, a NSW Premier's Award was presented by Stephen Bromhead to Curtis Landers, who suffered devastating neck and spine injuries in a junior rugby league match in May.
The citation of Curtis' award reads - "In recognition of your outstanding spirit, determination and positive attitude towards rehabilitation from severe injury."
Certificates of appreciation were also presented to 2RE's Anthony Zanos, local cattle auctioneer Bruce Moy, and the Taree PCYC Gymaroos for their services to the Myall Lakes community at the 2014 Father's Day Prostate Cancer Awareness Day where more than $8500 was raised for support groups in Forster and Taree.
The Myall Lakes Community Awards recognise the achievements of individuals and groups in the Myall Lakes and were first awarded in 2012 at the inception of Mr Bromhead.